Have you ever wanted to play blackjack at a real casino table from the comfort of your home? That’s what it’s like to play blackjack online in a live casino!
There’s no difference between playing blackjack in an online live casino and in-person apart from being in a physical casino.
However, your online live casino experience depends on the casino website you opt for. So, what’s the best live casino site for blackjack?
If you’re pondering this question, it’s time to check out Betting Sites Ranking! We’ve hand-picked and reviewed some of the best online casino websites to that play blackjack.
We also publish numerous articles on our blog that discuss topics such as reducing gambling losses and skill-based gambling.
But before you start going through our betting website reviews looking for the best online casino, why not take a moment to understand how to win big playing online blackjack?
Here’s how to maximize your earnings from playing blackjack in a live casino.
How is Blackjack in a Live Casino Different from a Real Casino?
If you want to learn how to maximize your earnings playing blackjack in a live casino, it’s important to understand the differences and similarities between blackjack in a live casino and blackjack in a real casino.
Playing blackjack online in a live casino is largely similar to playing blackjack in a real casino.
The dealer, cards, and tables in an online live casino are all just like an actual casino. The only major difference is that the building where the live casino is housed doesn’t entertain patrons.
In other words, live casinos are empty yet functional casinos that get their name from using cameras to live-stream dealers handing out cards for games like blackjack on a real table!
Both the house edge and the blackjack odds offered on each table in an online live casino are the same as in a real casino.
Players who want to play blackjack in a live casino ‘sit’ at a table of their choice remotely via a secure internet link.
If blackjack players in a live casino want to interact with the dealer or other players at their table, they can do so via live chat.
Some live casino websites also have video and audio call features that allow players to interact with one another and the dealer face-to-face!
If you play blackjack in a live casino, you’ll notice that the live stream doesn’t cut at any point irrespective of whether a game is being played or not.
This is done to emulate the feeling of a real casino table. The live stream is one continuous, uninterrupted feed that allows everyone at the table to constantly see what the dealer is doing.
Using the Basics of Blackjack to Maximize Your Earnings
If you log into a live casino and sit at a blackjack table, the dealer will wait for a brief period to see if other players want to join before the game starts.
We recommend playing at a table with the least number of other players if you want to maximize your earnings. Why? Because a table with fewer players gives you better odds of landing a great hand!
Each blackjack table in a live casino has a different minimum bet (known as the table’s “stakes”) just like in a real casino. High-stakes tables are suitable for experienced players because they have high minimum bets.
Therefore, if you’re a beginner and you want to maximize your earnings, we recommend sitting at a low-stakes table.
This will help you maximize your overall earnings because you won’t lose much if you don’t win a round of blackjack at a low-stakes table.
At the beginning of each round, the dealer will ask each player to put down the table’s minimum bet should they wish to play.
Once the dealer knows how many players are playing, they’ll declare that there’ll be no more bets for the round and begin dealing the cards.
The dealer will deal two cards to each player as well as themselves—one facing up and one facing down.
In other words, every player will know one of the dealer’s cards. This is important because in blackjack, your goal is to beat the dealer, not other players at the table.
With us so far? Great! Now let’s look at the values of each card in blackjack and common blackjack terminology so you can form a better understanding of how to maximize your earnings.
Card Values
The goal of blackjack is to get 21 points in as few cards as possible. This is achieved using a combination of face cards, aces, and number cards.
Face Cards
Face cards—as the name suggests—are cards with faces on them. This refers to King, Queen, and Jack. In blackjack, all face cards are worth ten points and the total number of face cards depends on how many decks are used.
For instance, six-deck blackjack will have 72 face cards. Why? Because each of the 6 decks in this form of blackjack contains 4 suits, and each suit contains 3 face cards.
Ace
In blackjack, Ace has two values—1 and 11. Anyone who is dealt an ace (including the dealer) can choose whether they want it to be worth 1 or 11. For example, if you get an ace and a five, your hand is either worth 6 points (1 point for the ace, 5 points for the five-card) or 16 points (11 points for the ace, 5 points for the five-card).
Number Cards
Number cards (2 to 10) are worth the same number of points as on the card.
Terminology
Blackjack
It takes at least two cards to make 21 in blackjack—such as an ace and ten, or an ace and a face card. If you get 21 in two cards, you have blackjack and win immediately!
If you get blackjack, most live casinos will pay you 3 to 2 odds. In other words, if the table stake is $2, you’ll get your money back and win $1 on top (for a total of $3).
With that said, blackjack odds vary depending on which live casino you’re playing at. For instance, some casinos offer slightly lower odds of 6 to 5 if you get blackjack.
Therefore, it’s worth looking through several betting.websites to find out which one has a live casino that offers the best blackjack odds to maximize your chances of winning.
Hitting
If you’re lucky, you’ll get blackjack with your first two cards. But if you don’t, you’ll have to choose whether to stay with the hand you have or ask for more cards. The latter is known as ‘hitting’.
For example, suppose you get dealt a 2 and a 5 in a round of online blackjack. In this scenario, it’s worth asking the live casino dealer for a hit because the goal of blackjack is to get to 21 points. If you ask for a hit and the dealer gives you another 5, you’ll be on 12 points.
Players are allowed to hit as many times as they wish. You can then ask for another hit to try to get to 21—but be careful! If you get a face card or a ten in this scenario, you’ll go bust and lose the round.
Staying
If you’re happy with the cards you have, you can say “stay” and the dealer won’t deal you additional cards.
If you’re playing blackjack in an online live casino, it’s extremely important to ensure your mic is working properly so the dealer knows when you wish to stay or hit.
If your mic isn’t dependable, we recommend using your keyboard to type ‘hit’ or ‘stay’. This is a fool-proof method and will help you maximize your earnings because your choices will be conveyed to the dealer.
Pocket is the blackjack term for getting dealt two of the same cards. For instance, if you’re dealt two tens, you have ‘pocket tens’.
The strongest starting hand is pocket aces because you can split them to maximize your chance of winning big by getting blackjack!
Splitting
If you get pocket cards, you can ask the dealer to “split” them. This allows you to play two separate hands on the same slot. In other words, you get two chances to win your bet on that slot!
For example, suppose you get pocket aces. If you split them, it’ll be as though you’ve been dealt two different hands with the ace being the first card of each hand.
In other words, you only need a face card or ten to land on either of the aces to get blackjack. If you get blackjack on both, you’ll get paid out for both hands!
Bust
Busts occur when a player’s total exceeds 21. Unfortunately, if you go bust, you lose the round immediately.
Three Ways to Win Big in a Game of Blackjack
1. Get a Blackjack Immediately
If your first two cards are worth a total of 21 points, you get paid out for an immediate blackjack! The only two ways to get an immediate blackjack is by being dealt an ace with a face card, or an ace with a ten.
2. Bet on Pocket Hands
Some live casinos offer blackjack odds on pocket hands across all slots. In simpler words, if you think someone will be dealt pocket cards in an upcoming round of blackjack, you can bet separately on the slot. If they get pocket hands, you get paid out immediately!
The blackjack odds offered for pocket hands vary depending on the live casino you’re using. Typically, the odds are 2-to-1—which means you’ll win more betting on pocket hands than if you got an immediate blackjack!
With that said, pocket hands are extremely rare when you’re playing blackjack in a live casino because most casino sites feature six-deck blackjack.
Therefore, betting on pocket hands is a terrific way to maximize your earnings but the downside is also substantial.
3. Beat the Dealer
Did you know you don’t need to get 21 to win blackjack? If you’re closer to 21 than the dealer, you’ll win! This is the main reason players typically stay if they have a hand of 17 or higher. If you hit on a 17, you’ll only be better off if you get a 4, 3, 2, or ace.
The important thing to note is that dealers must keep hitting until they either win or bust. For example, if the dealer’s on 16 and you’re on 18, they must hit and get 5, 4, or 3 to beat you.
However, chances are they’ll get a card higher than 5—which means that in this scenario, you’re likely to win if you stay instead of hitting!
If you think the same type of blackjack is played in every live casino, think again! There are two types of blackjack played in live casinos:
1. Classic Blackjack
Classic blackjack is the most common type of blackjack offered by casino sites. Classic blackjack—also known as American Blackjack—is played using up to eight decks of cards that are shuffled together after the jokers are taken out.
This allows numerous players to play multiple rounds without the risk of cards running out from the deck.
Tips to Maximize Your Earnings Playing Classic Blackjack
- Play with the fewest number of other players as you can to maximize the odds of landing card combinations that lead to an immediate blackjack
- Choose a table where many rounds haven’t been played. Why? Because this means most of the cards haven’t been dealt—so your chances of getting great cards are higher!
2. Multi-hand Blackjack
Thinking of playing blackjack with two hands simultaneously? That’s what multi-hand blackjack is like! In multi-hand blackjack, players are allowed to bet using more than one slot. Therefore, each player has multiple hands per round (hence the name).
One of the most popular variations of multi-hand blackjack is known as “Blackjack Switch.”
In this version of the game, each player plays with two hands and has the option of swapping the second card dealt with each hand with another one.
Tips to Maximize Your Earnings playing Multi-hand Blackjack
- Combine multiple hands with pocket bets to maximize your earnings potential. For instance, suppose you put $5 down on a slot and another $5 bet that you’ll get pocket hands. If you get a pocket and you split the pocket and get an immediate blackjack, you’ll earn substantially!
- Play on a small stakes table so your overall losses are minimized with each multi-hand round
Blackjack Strategies to Maximize Your Earnings Irrespective of What Type of Blackjack You’re Playing
Analyze Dealers Before Playing
One of the best ways to improve your chances of winning a game of blackjack is to analyze the way dealers in the live casino are playing.
Blackjack dealers have tells similar to poker players that reveal information about their hand. If you can spot tells and connect them to good or bad outcomes, you’ll improve your chances of winning considerably!
Check Your Hardware
It’s vital to check whether your computer and internet modem is working before you sit at a blackjack table in a live casino.
The last thing you want is to fold on a great hand because your internet lagged—so assess your connection in advance!
Tips on Hitting, Staying and Splitting to Win Big at Blackjack
Now that you know the basics of blackjack, here are some important tips to maximize your chances of success.
- If the sum of your first two cards is equal to or less than 11, ask for a hit. Why? Because it’s impossible to bust if you do this—so why stay when you can get closer to 21!
- If you get a pair of tens or face cards, don’t split. Why? Because 20 is an extremely good hand and your chances of winning will be extremely high irrespective of what the dealer or other players have.
Unfortunately, you’ll lose if the dealer gets an immediate blackjack. Therefore, it’s worth checking their cards before making your call.
If they have a face card as well, they’ll tie you unless they get an ace. On the other hand, if they have an ace, they need any face card or a ten to beat you—so you should split your tens and hope for aces!
- If you get a pair of numbers below 7, split them. Why? Because you’re more likely to win by hitting on each number after splitting than if you stay.
For example, if you have a pair of 6s, you have 12 in total. In other words, you can only hit once (hitting twice will most likely result in a bust).
However, if you split the 6s, you’ll get a 16 on each if you land a face card. You can then choose to hit on one or in an attempt to get blackjack depending on how risk-averse you are!
- If you get a pair of aces, split them. Why? Because you’ll instantly increase your chances of getting an immediate blackjack. If you have split aces, you’ll get blackjack if you get any face card or ten on either one!
What’s the Best Online Casino to Win Big Playing Blackjack?
The best online casino to win big playing blackjack depends on the player’s requirements.
For example, if you’ve had a risk-averse personality since childhood, chances are you’ll think the best online casino is whichever one has low-stakes blackjack tables.
On the other hand, if you’re a fan of crypto gambling then you’ll prefer a live casino that takes crypto deposits.
With that said, here are our top two live casino picks for blackjack:
1. William Hill Betting
If you’re looking for a live casino in the UK to play blackjack, William Hill online betting is a great option! While the William Hill Sportsbook is a favorite among bettors, its live casino is also extremely popular for blackjack. The minimum casino bet at William Hill is £0.03.
2. Betway
Betway has some of the best betting offers and is a great place for 24/7 online blackjack.
It has a dedicated live casino app with multiple angles focusing on each dealer to provide users with an ultra-realistic casino experience. In other words, Betway offers one of the best live casino experiences of any site.
The minimum casino bet on Betway is £0.10. Therefore, the stakes are higher if you want to play blackjack on Betway compared to other betting websites like William Hill.
